A life-sized version of ‘Carry On! by Birnie Rhind serves as the Fettes College War Memorial, Edinburgh

William Birnie Rhind, R.S.A., (1853-1933)

William Birnie Rhind A.R.S.A. (1893), R.S.A. (1905) produced some of the best known military memorials in Scotland, notably those of the Royal Scots Greys (1905), the Black Watch (1908) and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers (1919), but was also a distinguished architectural sculptor, with most of his important work also in Edinburgh. He was born in Edinburgh and was eldest son of the sculptor John Rhind. He trained at the Glasgow School of Design and Royal Scottish Academy before establishing a studio in Glasgow with his sculptor brother J. Massey Rhind in 1885-87. He afterwards settled permanently in Edinburgh where he produced sculpture for a number of important institutions including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (1898); The Scotsman Building (1900); and Jenners department store in Princes Street (1893-1903). Other important public work included sculpture on Winnipeg Parliament Building, Canada (1916-19); the Boer War Memorial at Alloa (1904); the equestrian Marquis of Linlithgow in Melbourne, Australia (1908); the statue representing Science on Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow (1898); the figures and heraldic panel on the former National Bank of Scotland in Glasgow’s Glassford Street (1902-3); and the Boer War Highland Light Infantry Memorial, Kelvingrove Park (1906). He exhibited regularly at the R.S.A., 1878-1933, and at the Royal Academy, London, 1898-1904, showing portrait busts and models for many of his public and architectural sculptures.

The Fettes Memorial

In 1919 Fettes College, Edinburgh, commissioned Birnie Rhind to produce a life-sized version of ‘Carry On’ as a memorial to the 246 old boys of the school who fell in the Great War. The choice of the kilted Highland Officer was felt to admirably represent the spirit of selflessness in adversity evidenced by a generation of former pupils. The memorial in the school grounds was unveiled at a ceremony led by General Sir W. E. Macpherson, K.C.B., in October 1921, and in 1933 caused a historian of the school to comment as follows:

‘At the outbreak of war there existed considerably less than 2000 Fettesians scattered throughout the world, and of that number some eight or nine hundred were over forty years of age. Yet 1094 joined up; 246, or nearly one-quarter, made the supreme sacrifice. They enlisted in every arm of the Service: on Sea, on Land and in the Air. They fought on no less than twenty-five Fronts, and representatives were to be found in the Canadian, New Zealand, Australian, South African and Newfoundland Corps as well as in the Indian Contingent. As was to be expected, the majority joined the Army and served in the trench warfare on the battlefields of France and Flanders. Naturally they flocked into Scottish Regiments; at least 68 joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 56 the H.L.I. (the Glasgow Regiment), 48 the Royal Scots, and every one of the other Scottish Regiments had at least a score (except the Scots Guards, with 7). The Honours List, which is long and honourable, contains 2 VCs., 49 DSOs, 17 CMGs and 146 Military Crosses (a distinctive award for the front-line soldier below the rank of Field Officer). There were Naval decorations, Flying Corps decorations and a host of Civil and Foreign decorations. Roughly out of every ten Fettesians who served, two were awarded decorations and four mentioned in despatches. But in such a war many of the bravest deeds - deeds done when no one was looking and without the hope of recognition - must in the nature of things go unrewarded. Reading this proud record, it is impossible not to be impressed by the number of brothers who served and, too often, died together; there were also instances of a father and son both laying down their lives. There are seven instances of two brothers being killed. Of the brothers Ross, three fell, members of a sturdy family, each of whom on his day led the Fettes forwards. Then there is the outstanding case of the four brothers Anderson, the entire family, who fell one after the other. The eldest of them, a married man of thirty-six, was the last to fall, but not before he had gained the Victoria Cross.’